DAU

Official account of DAU. Likes and shares ≠ endorsement.

Content was removed to align with the President's executive orders and DoD priorities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5400.17, "Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes." DAU is the one institution that touches nearly every member of the Defense Acquisition Workforce throughout all career stages. We provide a full range of basic, intermediate and advanced certification training,

assignment-specific training, applied research and continuous learning opportunities. We also foster professional development through Mission Assistance, Rapid Deployment Training on emerging acquisition initiatives, online knowledge-sharing tools and continuous learning modules.

08/27/2026

In their Defense Acquisition Magazine article, "From Blockbuster to Netflix: Acquisition Education and Training Must Learn About Disruption in the Age of AI" Donna Carroll, M.Ed., and Glenn Lamartin, DPA, ask the question, “What does the next model of acquisition education look like?”

They state that the previous approach to learning does not work anymore. Their suggestion? Using AI to help create adaptive and individualized approaches in acquisition education and training.

Read the full article here: https://www.waru.edu/library/damag/july-august2026/age-ai

08/26/2026

Ready for some real talk on acquisition transformation?

WarU is launching a new monthly web event series, Acquisition Transformation Unfiltered, for you to hear straight from the experts.

We're excited to have Mr. James Ruocco, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of War for Acquisition, for the first session, Rewiring Acquisition for Speed and Impact. Join us September 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM (EST).

This is an opportunity to hear where transformation is gaining momentum, where more traction is needed, and how urgency, ownership, and discipline translate into our day-to-day acquisition work.

Attend and earn 1 CLP.

For more info, check out: https://www.waru.edu/events/rewiring-acquisition-speed-and-impact

08/25/2026

Learn new digital acquisition skills with the Digital Acquisition Lifecycle Credential (CACQ 015).

This credential introduces acquisition professionals to the foundational concepts, language, and practices behind model-based digital acquisition, helping learners navigate an increasingly digital defense acquisition environment.

What you'll learn:

• Why digital acquisition is critical to delivering capability to the warfighter faster

• How digital tools and models support acquisition program ex*****on

• Key concepts and terminology used in model-based digital acquisition

Whether you're new to digital acquisition or looking to build a stronger foundation, CACQ 015 helps develop a shared understanding of digital practices and prepares you for deeper application of digital acquisition concepts in your role.

📌 Enroll now and earn up to 12 CLPs upon completion: https://icatalog.waru.edu/CredentialConceptCard/179

08/24/2026

Integrating agile principles is a practical step to strengthen the Warfighting Acquisition System— a goal the DoW is trying to reach through the Acquisition Transformation Strategy (ATS).

Miranda Lewis, WarU Field Training Services Director, writes in the May/June Defense Acquisition Magazine, "the transformation strategy is, in practice, a call to apply Agile principles at enterprise scale, and not saying so explicitly creates real risk."

In her article, 'Agile Principles as Framework for Warfighting Acquisition Reform', Lewis recommends three ways to promote agility.' One of them is to embrace change. "Evolving requirements are not a sign of failure—they are a reflection of learning."

Read Lewis's other two recommendations in the full article: https://www.waru.edu/library/damag/may-june2026/agile-principles

08/22/2026

Warfighting Acquisition University continues to evolve its learning assets to keep pace with updates to the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).

Current and proposed updates may affect how acquisition professionals determine CAS applicability, evaluate contractor accounting practices, and administer CAS-covered contracts.

Learn how we help the acquisition workforce understand and apply these changes: https://www.waru.edu/blogs/cas-modernization-here

08/21/2026

Applications for 2027 Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) are now open.

This 12-month competitive fellowship trains warfighting acquisition professionals to acquire cutting‑edge commercial technology by creating fluency in the warfighting and commercial sectors.

Gain hands-on experience with Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) commercial solutions opening process and Other Transaction Authority.

Work on Service-aligned projects alongside a DIU contracting officer and project team as well as with commercial solution providers.

Application deadline is October 9, 2026.

ICAP is a joint effort between WarU and DIU. For more information, please visit: https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/immersive-commercial-acquisition-program-icap

08/20/2026

What if the biggest obstacle to acquisition speed isn't policy, but instead how we think about risk, incentives, and trust?

In an era defined by rapid technological change, compliance and control can also slow innovation and capability delivery.

In the article, 'Beyond Compliance: The Trust-Based Revolution in Warfighting Acquisition' explores how program offices can move beyond transactional relationships and adopt commercial practices centered on shared outcomes, aligned incentives, and trust-based governance.

The article also highlights our working relationship with the University of Tennessee to bring these concepts directly into live acquisition environments through Vested pilots.

Read the full article here: https://www.waru.edu/news/beyond-compliance-trust-based-revolution-warfighting-acquisition

Interested in piloting this approach in your program office? WarU is actively seeking program offices wanting to explore Vested Way practices through hands-on pilot engagements. Contact us at [email protected].

08/18/2026

WarU President, Bilyana Anderson, addressed the first class of ACQ4040: Executive Leadership of Acquisition Portfolios, along with several other distinquished guest speakers who shared their real world challenges and experience.

This inaugural cohort spent the time diving into the realities of portfolio leadership in conditions of urgency, uncertainty, and competing demands. Today's acquisition leaders must make consequential tradeoffs across cost, schedule, performance, and risk to deliver a portfolio of capability at scale and speed.

Congratulations! Thanks for leading acquisition transformation.

08/05/2026

Software-intensive programs can't afford cybersecurity approvals that slow down delivery.

Continuous Authorization to Operate (cATO) helps acquisition teams integrate security into the development process so software is updated faster without compromising compliance or adding risk.

Smart acquisition professionals who build cATO considerations into contracts and program planning deliver mission capabilities to the warfighter faster. And that’s the name of the game.

Learn how cATO supports modern software acquisition in An Acquisition Professional's Guide to the cATO Galaxy: https://www.waru.edu/news/acquisition-professionals-guide-cato-galaxy

08/04/2026

Join us for a special two-hour web event featuring John Duncan, Program Manager for the Supplier Performance Risk System, and Kelley Kiernan, Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Protection at WarU, as we tackle the questions that matter most in defense contracting cybersecurity.

In this final installment of the Cyber Solutions webinar series, we'll explore CUI in solicitations, cybersecurity throughout the life of the contract, emerging challenges facing DoW contracting, and practical resources available to contracting professionals

For more information, please visit: https://www.waru.edu/events/cyber-solutions-one-last-mission-final-cui-cyber-resources-overview-sprs-masterclass

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